President Paul Kagame has received Preneet Kaur the Indian State Minister for external Affairs at Village Urugwiro.
They are believed to have discussed bilateral ties as well as the Indo-Africa Partnership (IAP) under which India has committed US $5 billion for Africa.
The deal, which involves a grant of US $700 million and loan schemes, was announced during the IAP forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in May last year.
Kaur, who arrived in the country Tuesday for a two-day visit with a delegation of 22 high profiled Indian business leaders, she also signed pacts with the government on renewable energy and solar electrification in 35 rural-based schools.
She stated that Indian programmes in Africa will focus on human resource development, capacity building, agriculture, ICT, hydro-power irrigation, among others.
The state minister said Rwanda is a “very friendly country with conducive business investment climate.
She said that was the main reason why many Indian companies are interested in investing in the country.
“Yesterday we signed cooperation agreements with the Rwandan government and immediately proposed that the first joint permanent commission meeting be held in New Delhi,” she noted.
“The Head of State was very supportive and positive in the talks we had and we are optimistic and sure that things will go in a very smooth manner as planned”.
The Indian business leaders travelling with the minister explored investment opportunities in the country, including the Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
The government seeks to create a fully functioning Special Economic Zone by 2015, where traders can enjoy from more free-market-oriented practices.
ENDS
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